Device for protecting metal from corrosion



Sept. 26, 1950 MOGCK 2,523,443

DEVICE FOR PROTECTING METAL FROM CORROSION Filed June 5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 H 1.51 A TrOEA/EY Sept. 26, 1950 H. MOGCK 2,523,443

DEVICE FOR PROTECTING METAL FROM CORROSION Filed June 5, 1945 I s Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. H4zz v MaacK Sept. 26, 1950 H. MOGCK 2,523,443

DEVICE FOR PROTECTING METAL FROM CORROSION Filed June 5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Hnzm Moace BY I WW H15 ATToZA/EY 7 Patented Sept. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR PROTECTING METAL FROM CORROSION This invention relates to metal protective device and method and relates particularly to a device and method of the character described by which it is possible to protect, from the deleterious effects of electrolysis, metal conduits and metal walls of parts through which, and around which, water is introduced or circulated.

Heretofore it has been realized that raw sea Water has a detrimental effect upon the cooling circulatory systems of engines used in watercraft of various kinds, and attempts have been made to prevent damage to metal walls of various parts of the engine with which water must come into contact.

Forexample, it is Well known that the use of fresh water will decrease, by many times, the rate of destruction experienced because of electrolysis and corrosion when raw sea water is used. Therefore, in many instances, a boat may be provided with an adequate reservoir for fresh water which will be run through the cooling jackets of the engine; thence through aradiator of some type located at some distance to effect dissipation of heat. Such an arrangement is not only costly, but bulky, uneconomical, and lacking in the degree of positive effectiveness which comes about through using, from the ocean itself, in as great quantities as needed, an always available supply of cooling medium of relatively low temperature.

In order to obtain the advantages given by using sea water as a cooling medium, and yet to avoid deleterious effects of sea water upon the circulatory systems of engines, it has been. quite common to run fresh water through the circulatory system of the engine and then to cool the fresh water by running it through a heat eX- changer, which uses as its coolin medium raw sea water of low temperature.

While the engine parts in such systems are protected adequately, during the effective life of the heat exchanger, the lives of conduits and the heat exchanger itself have been found to be extremely short in view of the rapid disintegration occasioned by electrolysis and the corrosive effects of the raw sea water.

A broad object of this invention is the provision of a device. and method for the protection of metal parts from the damaging effects of electrolysis and corrosion, ordinarily present when tive and economical manner and provide a sense of security to interested persons because the parts of the device are simple, accessible and subject to inspection and replacement with ease at needed intervals.

Another object of this invention, through the use of the device and method disclosed, is the elimination of the necessity of using bulky, costly and relatively inefficient devices, such as the heat exchanger used in marine installations as described above, in many instances where such devices are now considered to be indispensable from a practical point of view. It can be seen readily that better effects could be obtained, in a marine engine for example, if it were possible to use cool raw sea water, from an unlimited supply, to cool the engine rather than to employ a heat exchanger which, obviously, cannot be perfectly efficient.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a device into which the raw sea water is introduced and brought into contact with spaced zinc plates which, when properly ground- Vent theaforesaid damaging action in an effeced, will change the character of the sea water so that it will not have the damaging electrolytic and corrosive characteristics described above.

A further object is the provision in such a device of plate mountings and electrical connections which will ensure, over a long period of time, the effectiveness of the device, even when 7 the main body portions of the plates have been materially disintegrated by action of the raw sea water upon them.

This invention, therefore, comprises a method by which metal parts are protected from deleterious action of sea water by treating the sea water prior to the time it comes into contact with said metal parts, and a device for protecting said metal parts which comprises a container into which the raw sea water is introduced, spaced metallic plates which are affected by electrolysis, ground connections joining said plates and a ground, and means for mounting said plates to ensure effective action of the device.

A more complete understanding of my invention may be had in connection with the following description, by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the casing or container of the device with certain interior parts in elevation.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 1, but with the cover plate removed.

Figure 3 i a top plan view of a modified term 3 of the device which is provided with a multiplicity of outlets.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the interior parts of the device with the conducting bar removed from its normal position.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of my device in an assembly for marine use.

Figure 6 is a detailed view of a modified arrangement of ground connection.

Referring now to Figure 1, my device comprises a casing I0. of box-like form, preferably made of red brass and provided with an interiorly threaded intake boss .I I, and. a similarly interiorly threaded outlet boss I2. The base of the casing is provided with an interiorly threaded boss l3 for the reception of a drain plug l4.

Referring now to Figure 2, thesopposite side walls of the casing are provided with slots l5, which constitute holding guides for zinc plates l6 and II, which are mounted adjacent the out- -let"end of the casing. Adjacent -the-inlet end is provided a chamber for the reception of a 0- raminousplate or screen 18, which carries a flat flanged base [9 and upwardly extendin flanges 20, which are curved, as at El, to permit easy removal of the-plate 18 by a-simple tilting away from oppositely disposed vertically extending ribs 22, as shown in Figure 1, when the cover plate 23 is removed, as shown in-Figure 2.

It will be noted that 'zinc'plates [E are provided with apertures i l, while plates I? are provided with apertures '25, which are out of alignment-with apertures 24, when the plates are in proper and assembled relationship. Because of this arrangement; water flowing-through the-inlet-to the outlet will pursue a circuitous route and'come effectively into contact with large exposed surfaces of the zinc plates. The'top edges of plates [6 are notched, as at 26, while plates ll are notched, as at 21, for the reception of an elongated zine plate-28, which rests snugly within the'said notches of the plates '6 and Ii, thus forming a good electrical connection between all of the plates.

The casing l0 carries a horizontally'ex-tending flange 3| around its upper end, and this flange carries threaded openings 28 which receive a'pluralityof cap screws Sfi, whichpass through openings in the-outer edge of cover-plate '23 and hold the said cover securely in position.

Cover plate 23 carries ahollow dome-like-boss 4 32 which receives an expansion spring 33, which presses upon theupper surface of plate'QG, and rests upon the interior upper 'wall of boss 32,

to which screw 34 securely anchors the spring 33. Spaced irom the boss-32'is a'hoss 35, which is drilled and tapped, as -at ".-l|, to receive a threaded connection for a ground wire.

-R'eferring now to Figure 3 in which arnodified form of the device is'shown, a casing, similar to casin i0, is provided except that additional outlets 31 and 38 are provided for attachment to two conduits in addition to the one which may .interiorly threaded bosses, but it is well known that outwardly extending couplingfianges, generally similar to flange 3! at the upper end of casing i9, with threaded sockets for the coupling of.fianged:conduits, may be provided wherever I desired,

spirit of the appended-claims in respect'of modi- Referrin now to Figure 5, the device l0 of Figure l is illustrated in a diagrammatic showin of a boat, such as one in which the device is suitable for use. In the bottom of the hull, a sea cock 49 is provided, and a conduit 4|, controlled by valve 42, conveys sea water to a conduit 43, which conveys water to the interior of device I0 (through foraminous plate l8 and through the openings of plates l6 and H, as described above).

From casing It water proceeds, after treatment by device It), through conduit 44, valve 45 and conduit 46 to heat exchanger 41, and passes around the tubes of heat exchanger 41, which carry the fresh water which passes through con- .duits 48 and 49 connecting the heat exchanger '41 and the engine shown in diagrammatic form.

From the heat exchanger 41, water passes through conduit ,50 to a suction pump 5|, through conduit 52 and to an outlet 53, for return to the sea.

A- ground wire 54 is connected to the boss 35 =of device ID- and to the block of the enginein cases where the propeller shaft of the boat is connected directly to-the crank shaft of the en- :gine,-thus giving a good electrical connection to the-seawater on' the outside of the hull of the connects terminal 58 with terminal. 63, which carries a current conducting brush 6 I, which rides upon propeller shaft 62, and thus, an appropriate ground-connection between the device in andthe sea.

Dueto :the fact'that electrolysis occurs within my. device,..the,.zinc.plates l6. and I1 eventually become .covered with zfine coating ,(powdery -when dry) :and .itwill be necessary occasionally to removethis coating to keepthe-device operating' 'e'ificiently. Therefore, the cover .plate 23 may be removed, the plates IE and I! may be raised from their-guides, andthecoating maybe brushed ,orscraped off. Periodic inspection is easy .and replacement of the zinc plates whenneeded, is a simple operation.

In-instances. whereitis possible, by virtue of .theeiiectiveness of the device 49 described above, to. dispense. with a. heat. exchanger, such as that shown-lat Min-Figure 5,.the conduitilt could be connected:directlywith the intake conduit of theengineywhilethe conduit 5(L-could :be connected: with the outlet conduit ofthe engine so as to provide cool seawater .directly to theengine without .the attendant .loss .of. efliciency.in cooling. Thus, the bulky and .expensiveheat exchanger could be dispensed with and yetthe interior .of the cooling .jacket of the engine would be. protected from a deleterious action of electrolysis.

There are many other :installationsin which my method and devicemaybe employed, and I do not-wish to belimited in-the uses'towhich my method and device may be put, nor do'I wish to'be limited :beyond a proper scope and fications or adaptations which may occur to those skilled in the art.

"what-is-claimed is:

1. In combination, a boat having an engine therein, a fresh water circulatory system in said engine, a heat exchanger operatively associated with said fresh water system and adapted to have sea water pass therethrough, and a sea water treating device for reducing the corrosive effect of sea water prior to introduction to said. heat exchanger, said treating device comprising a casing made of a metal having good electrical conducting properties, and formed with an inlet for fresh sea water and an outlet for treated Water communicating with said heat exchanger, a plurality of zinc plates arranged in spaced relation in said casing and over which sea Water is adapted to pass, means for conductively connecting said plates, and means for grounding said plates to said engine.

2. In combination, a boat having an engine therein, a fresh water circulatory system in said engine, a heat exchanger operatively associated with said fresh water system and adapted to have sea water pass therethrough, and a sea water treating device for reducing the corrosive efiect of sea water prior to introduction to said heat exchanger, said treating device comprising a casing made of a metal having good electrical conducting properties, and formed with an inlet for fresh sea water and an outlet for treated water communicating with said heat exchanger, a plurality of zinc plates arranged in spaced relation in said casing, each of said plates being formed with a plurality of holes with the holes in any one plate being in staggered relation with respect to the holes in the next adjacent plates, means for conductively connecting said plates, and means for grounding said plates to said engine.

3. In combination, a boat having an engine therein, a fresh water circulatory system in said engine, a heat exchanger operatively associated with said fresh water system and adapted to have sea water pass therethrough, and a sea Water treating device for reducing the corrosive effect of sea water prior to introduction to said heat exchanger, said treating device comprising a casing made of brass and formed with an inlet for fresh sea water and an outlet for treated water communicating with said heat exchanger,

ing a casing made of brass and formed with an inlet for fresh sea water and an outlet for treated water communicating with said heat exchanger, said casing having opposed side walls, the inner faces of which are formed with spaced grooves, with the grooves in one side substantially opposite to the grooves in the other side, a plurality of zinc plates each of which has its side edges received in a set of said grooves whereby said plate is removably positioned in said casing, each of said plates being formed with a plurality of openings with the openings in any one plate being in staggered relation with respect to the openings in the next adjacent plates, a contact bar engaging the top edges of said zinc plates, spring means urging said bar against said plates, and an electrical connection between said bar and said engine.

HARRY MOGCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN COMBINATION, A BOAT HAVING AN ENGINE THEREIN, A FRESH WATER CIRCULATORY SYSTEM IN SAID ENGINE, A HEAT EXCHANGER OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FRESH WATER SYSTEM AND ADAPTED TO HAVE SEA WATER PASS THERETHROUGH, AND A SEA WATER TREATING DEVICE FOR REDUCING THE CORROSIVE EFFECT OF SEA WATER PRIOR TO INTRODUCTION TO SAID HEAT EXCHANGER, SAID TREATING DEVICE COMPRISING A CASING MADE OF A METAL HAVING GOOD ELECTRICAL CONDUCTING PROPERTIES, AND FORMED WITH AN INLET FOR FRESH SEA WATER AND AN OUTLET FOR TREATED WATER COMMUNICATING WITH SAID HEAT EXCHANGER, A PLURALITY OF ZINC PLATES ARRANGED IN SPACED RELA- 